COMMUNITY Spring 2017 • Vol. 32 No. 1 Newsletterfor Fulton, Fulton Hill and Montrose Heights The NRC Works program offers employment, financial, and benefits coaching as well as business development connections. …And now they are running businesses! r. Winston came to the NRC at the beginning of 2016 to use our computer working his business, he grossed almost $5,000. Not only were we able to remove Mlab for job searching. After speaking with our receptionist, he was invited to this barrier for Mr. Winston, but we were able to refer him to the UnboundRVA attend orientation to learn about all of our program offerings. Mr. Winston was program to assist him in his business goals. Mr. Winston most recently opened a a bit hesitant but decided to attend orientation. He immediately got connected new credit card and secured loan at Virginia Credit Union and is working towards with our Employment Coach, Sharon Overton. During their first one-on-one preparation for homeownership. In the meantime we have referred him to Urban coaching session, Ms. Sharon completed a visioning exercise with Mr. Winston Hope, which provides below market rate housing in Church Hill. We are so grateful and discovered that he had his own Heating & Air and Property Preservation for our partnership with United Way and Thrive that has enabled us to remove business. During this last year he went through some personal transitions which barriers preventing our participants from reaching their career and financial goals. resulted in him no longer being able to afford his business insurance. For the s. Buchanan began working with the NRC in the Fall of 2013. She immediately past year he worked in warehousing for a temp agency but due to the assignment Mbecame active in our one-on-one coaching services but didn’t fully engage being up, he was now unemployed and job searching again. Ms. Sharon also consistently in all of our program offerings until 2015. As she began working discovered that Mr. Winston was eligible to participate in our Thrive Scholarship on her credit and financial goals, we discovered Ms. Buchanan’s desire for Program and referred him to CWI to complete all necessary pre-requisites. Upon more income as well as for entrepreneurship. Because Ms. Buchanan was on completion, Mr. Winston began meeting with our Financial Coach, Ashley Patrick. disability, she was limited as to the amount of earned income she could receive In addition to working on his budget, credit, and savings, we were able to pay to each month, so she knew she could not work a full-time job but needed more get his business insurance reinstated, pay to get repairs done on his work van, money so she could afford to move out of public housing. Ms. Buchanan has purchase a new business cell phone, order new business cards, and provide $100 always had a passion for cleaning and had been working part time for a cleaning in gas cards. Within a week Mr. Winston was working again! In his first month of business for many years. After discussing the potential for her to become her continued next page TRANSIT UPDATE The Pulse is GRTC 2017. Close to Greater Fulton, construction of the the regular bus routes, and those changes affect Transit System’s Bus Rapid BRT route has started on Main Street near the bus service in Greater Fulton. The buses will connect Transit (BRT) line that will intersection with Nicholson Street. Main Street is Greater Fulton directly to The Pulse BRT station on run between Orleans Street at Rocketts Landing being widened to accommodate the bus lane, and Orleans Street. Bus service routes and operating and Willow Lawn. For much of the route, the buses parking spaces and sidewalks on both sides of times will also change. To learn if your route is will run in a dedicated bus lane; that is, the bus Main Street will also be added. Once Main Street affected, check the RVA Rapid Transit website: www. will not share a lane with cars. The dedicated bus is reopened, Wharf/Dock Street will be closed rvarapidtransit.org/richmond-regional-transit- lane is intended to decrease travel times between permanently as part of the 2012 Riverfront Master vision-plan. destinations. Plan. Construction will continue in the area for the GRTC’s website also has current information on Construction of the BRT route is currently next year or so. construction and operations of The Pulse system. underway and will continue throughout most of GRTC Transit System is also making changes to The website is www.ridegrtc.com/brt. COMMUNITY PRESIDENT’S LETTER Dear residents of Greater Fulton, In case you haven’t noticed yet, the Civic Association name and logo have had an update since our last issue. On the front cover, you’ll see what I mean. The word “Hill” in our association name has been dropped in favor of the all-inclusive name “Greater Fulton.” Or perhaps you didn’t notice and that’s even better. Many of us have been referring to ourselves as Greater Fulton since the Greater Fulton’s Future initiative several years ago. We are three areas: Fulton, Fulton Hill, and Montrose Heights, but together we are the Greater Fulton community. The fact that this has been a gradual progression is exciting evidence that this name change has been a grass-roots transition. It’s come from us as a community. That is something we can celebrate. Rosa Coleman Appreciatively, Rosa D. Coleman “…And now they are running businesses” continued own boss, we referred Ms. Buchanan to UnboundRVA. We were extremely proud Community Contacts of her dedication to the program, and after several months of hard work she was Greater Fulton Hill Civic Association selected to advance in the final round to launch Buchanan’s Cleaning Services. In President: addition, Ms. Buchanan was selected as a recipient of our Thrive barrier removal Rosa Coleman 804-201-0712 [email protected] funds, which allowed the NRC to purchase her a laptop to complete all of her Vice-President: homework assignments for UnboundRVA and the GED program, startup supplies Kara Zinchuck 804-617-6979 [email protected] for her business, business t-shirts, and a business cell phone. Lastly, we were Secretary: able to pay to get Ms. Buchanan’s driver’s license reinstated after over 10 years vacant of not having driving privileges. Ms. Buchanan is a true testament that the sky Treasurer: Amy Wight 804-307-2741 [email protected] is the limit if you commit to the process. We are excited about her journey as an entrepreneur and are continuing to provide financial coaching and support to her. Executive Committee The NRC also was able to hire Ms. Buchanan for commercial cleaning services at Paul DiPasquale 804-690-0879 [email protected] the NRC! For more information, contact NRC at 864-5797. Kimberly Frost 804-239-0203 [email protected] Jasen Glasbrenner 804-888-5557 [email protected] Cheryl Groce-Wright 804-864-5797 [email protected] Thelma Martin 804-931-6226 [email protected] Carl Otto 804-226-4366 MaryEllen Otto 804-226-4366 [email protected] Rose Pollard 804-222-5850 [email protected] Rebecca Robinson 804-869-7361 Juliellen Sarver 804-678-9906 [email protected] 2016-2017 Officers: Susan Nyaga, Secretary; Amy Wight, Treasurer; Rosa Hazel Turner 804-921-7684 Coleman, President; Kara Zinchuck, Vice President Bobby Vickers 804-337-9940 [email protected] WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP? Brenda Vickers 804-337-0867 [email protected] If you have a bit of extra time and want to serve our community, getting involved with the Greater Fulton Civic Association is a great way to help! Those on the Executive Committee are all there because they 1) expressed an interest, 2) made themselves available fairly regularly, 3) and were willing to share their knowledge as well as learn new ways to serve the community. The officers of the Civic Association (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer) are in The Greater Fulton Hill Civic Association Meetings these roles because they were extra willing to serve in the ways listed here. Coming regularly to the Civic Association meetings is a good way to get started. There are April 11 • June 13 • Oct. 10 • Dec. 12 • 7-8pm many opportunities to help in the Greater Fulton community. One person recently connected Refreshments • All are welcome! with the Executive Committee. After getting to know our group a bit better, he said, “Just give Neighborhood Resource Center, 1519 Williamsburg Road me the list of ways you need help. I’ll see what I can do.” We would love to get to know you better and help you find ways that you enjoy strengthening our community as well! General meetings are held on the second Tuesdays of even months (Oct., Dec., Feb., April, June) at the Neighborhood Resource Center, 1519 Williamsburg Road at 7 pm. The Executive Committee meets on the alternate months, second Tuesdays, at 7 pm. • The newsletter is distributed to 2,000 residents and businesses. This issue: Editor: Kara Zinchuck; Assistant Editors: Amy Wight and Brenda Vickers. Photo Editor: Greta Banister; Layout: Al Davis. Advertising: Polly Chamberlain, Carl and Mary Ellen Otto. Printing by James River Press. Published by: Greater Fulton Hill Civic Association, PO Box 38112, Richmond VA 23231. 2 COMMUNITY Powhatan Park and The Clean Team Handicap Access Do you notice litter on the streets and sidewalks of Fulton? Do you wish someone would do something about it? We are fortunate to have Powhatan Park in our neighborhood. There are basketball courts, a baseball Well, they are! The Clean Team has begun work on field, a tot lot, and a great overlook to view the city strategies to: skyline.